Preston v Sheffield United Preview

Some would say that both of these sides are already down, with Preston approaching this game sat in 23rd position while Sheffield United are rock bottom of the league in 24th. Both have endured dreadful seasons and while they are not yet mathematically relegated, they both have enormous tasks on their hands to stay in the division with just five games remaining.

Preston’s form over the past few weeks has been actually very good but it’s most certainly a case of too little, too late for the Deepdale outfit. The Lilywhites have lost just once in their last six but after collecting just two points from their last three games, it would be fair to say that their form has dried off slightly as we head into the season finale. As it stands, Phil Brown’s men have collected thirty six points, meaning that seven points now keep them adrift of safety. It’s generally thought that fifty points is the mark for survival and with just fifteen points left to play for, it’s no surprise to see how Preston’s chances have been written off by many already.

Sheffield United meanwhile have endured an equally awful campaign and many of their supporters have also accepted their fate. United are actually one point worse off than their opponents meaning that eight points keep them away from safety and with so little of the season remaining, survival now seems almost impossible. A few weeks ago the Bramall Lane outfit held a slight glimmer of hope of surviving after recording two successive home victories, but since then their form has dipped again and the Blades approach this clash having lost their last three. Considering the fact that their last two games were at home, Micky Adams will be deeply frustrated and he may even be worried about his own position, despite inheriting the Blades’ problems from previous managers.

Preston’s chances in this one have been hit with something of a injury crisis as Phil Brown prepares to be without umpteen players. The likes of Leon Cort, Sean St Ledger, David Gray, Amine Linganzi and Conor McLaughlin are all on the treatment table and there are doubts that some will play again this season. Sheffield United also have plenty of concerns and Micky Adams will leave it late before making a decision on Daniel Bogdanovic, Joe Mattock and Stephen Quinn who are all doubtful through injuries. Ched Evans and Richard Cresswell are definite absentees, but Adams at least has some good news with Lee Williamson set to return to the reckoning after completing a suspension.

As for a prediction, we think this will end in a draw. Preston hold the home advantage and have the better form, but with the Lilywhites having so many injury concerns this will be no walkover. Micky Adams will demand nothing less than a battling performance from his United side and with that, we’ll predict a 2-2 score line.

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Preston v Leeds Preview

Posted on March 08th, 2011 in English Championship

This is another fixture in which both sides desperately need points, with Preston battling to beat the drop while Leeds are looking to gain a second successive promotion. As the season finale approaches, the tension is certainly mounting and Preston in particular know that defeat is unavoidable as they sit rooted to the bottom of the league.

Preston are very similar to fellow strugglers Sheffield United in the way that many people feel their form must turn around soon. The Lilywhites have been struggling for months and the very fact that Phil Brown has yet to taste victory as manager speaks volumes about their failures. However, the situation is now becoming extremely serious and with twelve games remaining, Brown’s men sit ten points adrift of safety. Considering the fact they have not won since the start of December, survival seems an extremely tough target. There’s no doubt that Brown has made the club much harder to beat, with the statistic of four draws from their last five showing that. However, at this stage of the season that is not enough and Preston’s fortunes have to change in the next couple of weeks if they are to beat the drop.

Leeds meanwhile are clinging on to their playoff position, with Simon Grayson’s men currently sat in 6th position. Four points separate them from 7th place Burnley but with the Clarets holding two games in hand, that margin is pretty insignificant. However, their form of late has been relatively good and despite slipping to a 3-0 defeat to Swansea a couple of weeks ago, they responded in emphatic fashion by thrashing Doncaster 5-2 in their last outing. That victory means that their form reads as eleven points from their last six games, which certainly isn’t a bad statistic considering that the pressure is now mounting. What’s more, in striker Luciano Becchio they have one of the division’s in-form strikers, with the Argentine taking his tally for the season to seventeen having scored three in his last four.

The injuries are starting to mount for the home side ahead of this clash as Phil Brown sweats on the fitness of Craig Morgan, Andy Lonergan, Nathan Ellington, David Gray, Leon Cort and Barry Nicholson. All of the above are classed as doubts and Brown will leave it late before making a decision. Leeds meanwhile will just have the two absentees as Lloyd Sam and Paul Connolly prepare to miss out. Neither is yet fit following injury problems and Simon Grayson will give them an extra week to prove their match fitness.

Preston have shown in recent weeks that they are the draw masters and we fully expect that to continue here. With the Lilywhites having so many injury concerns we think a home victory is certainly off the agenda, but having looked at recent form we think a draw is well within their capabilities

Middlesbrough v Preston Preview

Posted on January 22nd, 2011 in English Championship

At the start of the season not one person would have seen this as a potential relegation clash although at the moment, that’s exactly what it is. Despite investing vast amounts of money in the playing squad, Middlesbrough are still looking over their shoulder as they sit in 19th position. The visitors meanwhile have even bigger problems and having accumulated just twenty points so far, Preston sit right at the foot of the table, seven points from safety.

Middlesbrough’s season has been simply extraordinary and if there ever was an example of large transfer activity not solving problems, this is it. Boro’s multi-million pound squad simply haven’t gelled and after being tipped as clear favorites for the Championship, it now looks as though the Riverside outfit will have to be contempt with a mid-table position at the absolute best. For now though, the job is to get away from the relegation zone. Tony Mowbray’s men are currently four points away from the drop zone although if they can continue their recent good form, they should be able to extend that margin very quickly. Ignoring a shock 2-1 defeat to Burton in the Cup, Boro are now unbeaten in four and they approach this fixture having thrashed Bristol City 4-0 at Ashton Gate in their last game. That should give them a huge amount of confidence and if they can add to recent results, it may, considering the talent on their books, be possible to launch an ambitious playoff bid.

Some would say that Middlesbrough’s position is false considering some of their players, but Preston on the other hand are in all sorts of problems. Having taken over from Darren Ferguson a few weeks ago, Phil Brown has an almighty job on his hands as he aims to stop the rot and keep the Deepdale outfit in the division. Brown has overseen two games since taking charge and while he is yet to experience victory, he did see his side find tremendous spirit and grab a last minute equalizer against Leicester in their last outing. However, despite the extra point, the Lilywhites are still at the foot of the table and it’s going to take a tremendous run of results for them to stay in the division

Cardiff v Preston Preview

Both of these sides head into this encounter needing points for different reasons, with Cardiff battling to hold on to their automatic position while Preston are a long way adrift at the bottom. Having lost their last two games it would be fair to say that the Bluebirds are not in the best of form, although their opponents are on an even worse run with just one win from their last ten.

It was only a few weeks ago that Cardiff were sat at the top of the table and while their lead was slim, it still looked as though the Bluebirds would be up in the automatic spots for a long, long time. However, a few bad results later and Dave Jones must be sweating and with bitter rivals Swansea just three points away, the Bluebirds could even be knocked out of their 2nd placing this weekend. The drop has come following a month of bad results and with the Cardiff City stadium outfit winning just one of their last five, their supporters must be beginning to panic a little. Of course, all sides go on a bad run through a season but with all his experience, Dave Jones will know that these results cannot carry on for much longer.

If Cardiff’s fans are worried, Preston’s faithful must be absolutely petrified. What’s more, manager Darren Ferguson must be quite concerned as well and the pressure is certainly mounting on the former Peterborough boss. The Lilywhites have had a dreadful campaign and with a return of just fifteen points from their opening nineteen games, they are rock bottom and already five points adrift from safety. Their last win game way back in October and unfortunately for Ferguson, he appears to have lost the faith of his supporters a long time ago. Of course the season is still young and nothing is confirmed yet, but their current points tally suggests that radical changes are required if the Deepdale outfit are to stay in this division.

As for team news, Cardiff have a few problems heading into this one and it starts between the sticks with David Marshall set to start due to Tom Heaton’s injury. Elsewhere, Dave Jones also has problems in defence with Chris Riggott and Paul Quinn both unavailable. It’s looking better for the visitors who could welcome back Callum Davidson following a groin problem. Paul Coutts may also return following injury, while Sean St Ledger is likely to be named on the bench.

In terms of a prediction, we can only go for a home win here. Cardiff may be on a poor run of form, but Preston are in a dire situation at the moment and they don’t look like coming out of this mess any time soon. With that, we’ll go with a 2-0 victory for the Bluebirds.

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